The Spirit of Homebuilt Aviation I www.eaa.org OCTOBER 2012 Replica Fun! Bill Keyes’ Stewart S-51 » 2012 Homebuilt Award Winner » Baffl ing... The Aerochia LT-1 It doesn’t have to be Homebuilder’s Corner Checking In Flying new-to-you airplanes By Chad Jensen I’ve had the opportunity to fl y a as much to do with the airport Flying the tri-gear airplanes fi rst number of airplanes since I’ve been environment as it does the airplane. allowed me to learn to fl y the on staff at EAA, and I’m quite pleased I went through the ground school airplanes without having to worry with the amount of fl ying that I’m able and then started training at the much about winds during the takeoff to do here. airport in the tri-gear Glastar. While and landing phases of fl ight. I haven’t I was signed off to fly the tailwheel yet fl own the taildragger Sonex or When new-to-me airplanes become Glastar solo, I did not complete my Onex, but I wouldn’t even think of available to fl y, I use the checkout training to fly Young Eagles from doing so without training. training system to transition to the airport in that airplane. Why that airplane. The term “checking one Glastar, and not the other? My challenge to all of you who check out” should really be “checking They are different. Not just in the in to new-to-you airplanes is to get in.” I’ve checked in to six different case of where the little wheel the proper transition training from a experimental airplanes over the last resides on the airplane, but they fly qualifi ed instructor. A focus at EAA year—the two Glastars at Pioneer, differently. The pitot-static system is safety of the E-AB segment of Sonex tri-gear, Onex tri-gear, RV-6A, is slightly different in each airplane, aviation. We are under the gun from and the Wag Aero Cuby. the speeds are different in the the NTSB to improve our record. pattern, and the list goes on. So EAA’s Safety Initiative is a big part of Checking in to an experimental close, yet different. that, but the biggest part of improving amateur-built (E-AB) airplane the record is you. (airplane-AB) is something no one The folks at Sonex have allowed me should take lightly. Even if you have to fl y a couple of their airplanes, and Check in before you give yourself a previous time in a similar type (I it has been a wonderful experience. chance to check out. built and fl ew my RV-7 but still took instruction in the RV-6A), they all fl y a little differently, and they all have different panels and systems. I did my tailwheel endorsement in 2007 in a J-3. The Cuby is the experimental version of the J-3, so it’s no big deal, right? Well, the J-3 had a 65-hp engine; the Cuby has an 85-hp engine on it. Not a big difference, but they are different, and the Cuby does fl y a little differently than the J-3. I was pleased with my training in the Cuby to get me ready to fl y it regularly; it’s the airplane of choice for me! A check-in at Pioneer Airport has On the cover: Bill Keyes’ turbine-powered S-51, Lil Stinker. (EAA photo by Jim Koepnick.) 2 NO. 2/OCTOBER 2012 Contents NO. 2/OCTOBER 2012 I A publication of the Experimental Aircraft Association Features » 12 Bill Keyes’ S-51T » 18 Aerochia’s First: The LT-1 When 12 cylinders just aren’t enough The plans-built grand champion at By Budd Davisson AirVenture Oshkosh 2012 By Tim Kern Departments Columns » 2 Homebuilders’ Corner » 28 Under the Cowl By Chad Jensen Baffl ing By Tim Kern » 4 E-Mail Letters and links from readers » 6 News from EAA HQ » 32 Safety Wire News from EAA Transitioning to Experimental or Unfamiliar Airplanes, Part 2 » 9 Flightline Industry News By Hobie Tomlinson » 24 What Our Members Are Building » 38 The Panther Sport Plane Light Plane World By Pat Panzera Recapping AirVenture 2012 By Dan Grunloh » 27 Hints for Homebuilders A “Holey” Saw By Cy Galley » 43 Flight Test Techniques Airspeed Basics By Ed Kolano EAA EXPERIMENTER 3 E-Mail Readers React PUBLICATIONS STAFF To the “new” Experimenter! Founder: Paul H. Poberezny Publisher: Rod Hightower The digital Experimenter provided a good read. Accessibility was good as well. While my specifi c interest areas are LSA, motorgliders, and ultralights in an E-AB context, the Vice President of Publications: coverage of experimental subjects (e.g., the 1/3 B-17) helps in appreciating the work of J. Mac McClellan other people. Homebuilding Community Manager: Chad Jensen Thanks for your efforts, Editor: Mary Jones/EditEtc. LLC Harold Bickford Graphic Designer: Chris Livieri EAA 567796 News Editor: Ric Reynolds Copy Editor: Colleen Walsh I really like the digital Experimenter. Keep up the good work. I’m building a Pietenpol Multimedia Journalist: Brady Lane and love articles about homebuilding. Visual Properties Administrator: Jason Toney Arden Adamson EAA 126141 Contributing Writers: Budd Davisson, Cy Galley, Dan Grunloh, Tim Kern, Ed Kolano, Pat Panzera, Hobie Tomlinson Just fi nished the “new” Experimenter and must congratulate all associated with this European Correspondent: Marino Boric enterprise…It is great! Will be looking forward to subsequent editions. Doug Brownlee EAA 28103 ADVERTISING Display Sue Anderson Pros Jonathan Berger I like the format, the tool used to deliver, etc. Jeff Kaufman Article: Celebrating Older Homebuilts – Home run! Article: Can’t Keep a Good Plane Down – Good! Mailing Address: – Love these. And so few people know about them—why? Hints for Homebuilders P.O. Box 3086, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3086 What Our Members Are Building. Safety related articles—experimental—such as the article “Transitioning to Phone: 920-426-4800 Experimental or Unfamiliar Airplanes.” Fax: 920-426-4828 Flight Testing Techniques. E-mail: [email protected] Lack of ads—good move! Website: www.EAA.org Cons Chapter News – Keep that in Sport Aviation. Need to change your address Anything about certifi cated aircraft such as “Cessna to Change Skycatcher or have other membership Certifi cation”—what part of this is experimental? questions, call 800-564-6322 Anything about Continental Motors’ “diesel turbo” yada yada—what part of (800-JOIN EAA). this is experimental? News from HQ – Leave that for the EAA fl agship publication. If HQ is building an E-AB, EAA® and SPORT AVIATION®, the EAA fi ne, otherwise I don’t want to read about HQ. Logo® and AERONAUTICATM are registered Keep out articles about AirVenture—the most commercialized gathering of aviation. trademarks, trademarks, and service marks This is not grassroots E-AB stuff; better left to Sport Aviation. of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. The use of these trademarks and The new Experimenter is a bit too much like Sport Aviation. Think about the people who service marks without the permission of build E-AB and stop writing about companies like Cessna and Continental. And I would the Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. like to see a heavy emphasis on safety of E-AB—how can the E-AB builder make a is strictly prohibited. safer plane and improve E-AB safety overall. Bob Dewenter EAA 773828 Send your letters or comments to [email protected]. 4 NO. 2/OCTOBER 2012 I’m a Member because... EAA protects my freedom to build and fl y. Visit EAA.org/join to become a part of the world’s most passionate aviation community. Photo by Jeff Miller/EAA © 2012 Experimental Aircraft Association, Inc. OCTOBER 2012 EAA EXPERIMENTER 2 News From HQ EAA Member Donates Piper Cub Replica The EAA AirVenture Museum received a tremendous gift this summer from longtime EAA member and Air- Venture volunteer Marv Hoppenworth, EAA Lifetime 2519, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and EAA Chapter 33, who presented the museum with a homebuilt replica have borrowed the registration number, NC9245H, from of a Piper Cub on the 75th anniversary of William that Cub for this museum Cub.” Piper’s masterpiece. The replica aircraft is now at Pioneer Airport waiting to Marv spent countless hours building a full-size Piper be moved into the museum to truly honor Marv’s achieve- Cub replica for donation and static display in the mu- ment and generosity for years to come. Marv and his wife, seum and worked tirelessly to get it completed in time Cathy, are longtime volunteers at AirVenture, helping to for EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2012. The replica contains make EAA’s international celebration possible. He has pro- parts from more than 20 different Piper Cubs and was vided limitless entertainment for children with his famous built in the memory of Marv’s very first airplane, a Piper pedal plane kits and plans. The pedal planes that are used Cub that he bought in 1948. “It was a Piper L4-H that I at KidVenture to entertain our youngest visitors are of purchased from the pilot, Mr. Vernon Sandrock, who Marv’s creation. To quote Marv, “There are two seasons in was flying it at the end of World War II,” Marv said. “I Iowa: before Oshkosh and after Oshkosh.” The EAA Flight Plan begins with an introductory Young Eagles airplane ride with a volunteer EAA pilot in a GA aircraft. From there, participants have ac- cess to a free EAA student membership, the Sporty’s online course, a free fi rst fl ight lesson at a local fl ight school of their choice, and numerous scholarships available to support continued fl ight training until a pilot’s certifi cate is obtained.